Prevalence and Knowledge of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatera, Indonesia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection remains of public health importance, particularly in developing countries. North Sumatra province of Indonesia has reported high prevalences of STH in many of its districts.
 AIM: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of STH and evaluated STH knowledge and risk behaviours of school children in Mandailing Natal district.
 METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in two primary schools in Mandailing Natal district, North Sumatera province, Indonesia. Data were collected directly from the subjects using a questionnaire after receiving consent from their parents. A stool sample was also collected to determine the STH status of each subject. Samples were then transported to the parasitology laboratory at Universitas Sumatera Utara in Medan to be analysed by a trained analyst. Kato-Katz method was used to prepare the slides (World Health Organization, 2002). The intensity of infection is classified into light, moderate and heavy infection.
 RESULTS: Prevalences of STH infections were 76.8% and 87.2% in Singkuand and Sikapas primary schools, respectively. The majority of infections were Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura at a light intensity. Only small numbers of children in the two schools used soap before eating, used soap after defecating, and wear sandal/shoes when walking outdoor. Less than 50% of children also knew the route of transmission of STH. Poorer knowledge and behaviours were shown in children from Sikapas than in Singkuang.
 CONCLUSION: High prevalence and poor hygiene behaviours found in this study reinforce the need to identify the correct intervention to address this STH problem in the region.

The Correlation of No Footwear Use and Soil Helminth Incidence among Elementary School Children in Musi Rawas, South Sumatera, Indonesia

“…A study in North Sumatra found a significant association between wearing shoes and helminthiasis infection (p = 0.004 and prevalence ratio of 3.195) 25 . The overall incidence and unhygienic behaviors revealed suggest the importance of identifying the best solution to address the STH problem in North Sumatra 26 . In parallel with the increased educational activities, footwear deployment has successfully minimized STH infection in endemic locations 27 .…”

Efficacy of Albendazole and Albendazole-Mebendazole against Trichuris trichiura Infections

“…A systematic review and meta-analysis study done by Strunz et al (2014), as well as a study by Manz et al (2017), reported an important correlation among water, sanitation, hygiene, environment, and exposure to the soil to the prevalence of STHs [12], [13]. The prevalence in this study was lower than the other study done to school children in Singkuang and Sikapas, North Sumatra, by Nasution et al (2019), with a prevalence of 57.1% and 78.1%, respectively [14]. This difference may be caused by the administration of anthelmintic to children in Talawi through a program held by the government in 2019.…”

Persisting low skin prick test prevalence among children receiving periodic anthelminthic treatment after recurrent soil-transmitted helminth infections: a one-year observation

“…Consequently, T-helper1 cells release cytokines and activate the cell-mediated responses, which are effective to fight against intracellular bacteria and protozoa. However, when the allergy-causing protein incorrectly stimulate T-helper2 cell responses, a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction may occur and the allergy responses by IgE may manifest in the skin, sinus, and/or lungs [5,6,14,23,24].…”